according to Hoyle

English

Etymology

Named after Edmond Hoyle (1672–1769), an early author on the subject of card gaming.

Pronunciation

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Prepositional phrase

according to Hoyle

  1. (idiomatic) In strict accordance with the rules, especially of card games; in the proper or expected manner.
    • 1902, Gilbert Parker, chapter 11, in Donovan Pasha and Some People of Egypt:
      This isn't a country where things are cut and dried, and done according to Hoyle.
    • 1912, Robert W. Service, “The Quitter”, in Rhymes of a Rolling Stone[1]:
      When you're lost in the Wild, and you're scared as a child, / And Death looks you bang in the eye, / And you're sore as a boil, it's according to Hoyle / To cock your revolver and . . . die.
    • 2007 February 22, Phil Axelrod, “District Spotlight: PAC men's basketball follows form”, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, retrieved 8 Aug. 2008:
      The opening round of the Presidents' Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament went according to Hoyle.

Translations

Further reading